The Ohio State football program has once again made a slight modification to its helmets ahead Wednesday’s College Football Playoff matchup with Oregon at the Rose Bowl (5 p.m. ET on ESPN), adding a sublimated rose pattern to the scarlet stripe.
This marks the second consecutive trip to Pasadena that the Buckeyes have added this subtle detail to their helmets, as they also did so ahead of their thrilling 48-45 win over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
The Utes also incorporated a rose into their helmet design for that year’s “Granddaddy of Them All,” as well as their subsequent appearance in 2023, following the lead of Washington State (1998 and 2003), Purdue (2001) and TCU (2011).
Other examples of teams modifying their helmet design for the Rose Bowl include Wisconsin adding a sublimated rose pattern to their Motion “W” in 2012 and Ohio State replacing the B1G front bumper with a partial Rose Bowl logo in 2019.
Unlike their last two trips to Pasadena, the Buckeyes will be wearing their standard road uniforms – including silver helmets, white jerseys and gray pants – instead of their scarlet home jerseys. It’ll be their first appearance since a victory over the Ducks in 2010.
Photo courtesy of @OhioStAthletics on X/Twitter.